Sheet holder



April 3, 1945. v s. M. MCCARTHY 2,372,904

SHEET HOLDER Filed June 21, 1943 Patented Apr. 3, 1945 UNITED STATESPATENT OFFICE SHEET HOLDER Samuel M. McCarthy, Columbus, Ga.

Application June: 21, 1943, Serial No. 491,687

1 Claim. (01. 855) The present invention relates to new and usefulimprovements in sheet holders and has for its primary object to provide,in a manner as hereinafter set forth, novel means for temporarily butfirmly securing together two or more sheets of material while in theprocess of fabrication.

Another very important object of the invention is to provide a sheetmaterial holder of the aforementioned character which is adapted to beexpeditiously applied and removed from one side of the material andwhich obviates the use of wrenches, nuts, etc.

Other objects of the invention are to provide a sheet material holder ofthe character described which will be comparatively simple inconstruction, strong, durable, highly eiiicient and reliable in use andwhich may be manufactured at low cost.

All of the foregoing and still further objects and advantages of theinvention will become apparent from a study of the followingspecification, taken in connection with the accompanying drawing whereinlike characters of reference designate corresponding parts throughoutthe several view, and wherein:

Figure 1 is an elevational view, showing a holder constructed inaccordance with the present invention applied to two sheets of material,said material being shown in section.

Figure 2 is an elevational view, showing the device ready to be applied.

Figure 3 is a view in vertical section through the holder.

Figure 4 is a vertical sectional view through the holder, showing thedevice ready to be applied.

Figure 5 is a plan view of the device.

Figure 6 is a detail view in perspective of the expansible element.

Referring now to the drawing in detail, it will be seen that theembodiment of the invention which has been illustrated comprises asocket l of suitable dimensions and material, preferably metal.Projecting in opposite directions from the open end portion of thesocket l and integral therewith are finger receiving lugs 2.

An integral boss 3 projects from the closed end of the socket I. Alongitudinal bore 4 in the closed end portion of the socket extendsthrough the lug 3. p

The bore 4 accommodates 'a rod 5 which extends slidably through thesocket 1. Heads 6 and l are provided on the ends of the rod 5.

Mounted on the rod 5 between the head I and the boss 3 is a resilienttube constituting an expansible retaining element 8. A coil spring 9encircles the rod 5 in the socket and is engaged with the head 6, forlongitudinally compressing and radially expanding or bulging theresilient retainer 8.

It is thought that the manner of using the device will be readilyapparent from a consideration of the foregoing. Briefly, the sheets ofmaterial it which are being fabricated are brought together and two ofthe openings II therein are aligned. Two of the fingers of the hand arethen engaged beneath the lugs 2, and the thumb is engaged with the head6. The rod 5 is then actuated against the tension of the coil spring 9for permitting the resilient retaining element 8 to assume its naturallongitudinally extended shape, as seen in Figures 2, 4, and 6 of thedrawing. The element 8 is then passed through the registering openingsll, the boss 3 is engaged therein and the closed end of the socket I iscaused to abut one of the sheets ID. The rod 5 is then released topermit the coil spring 9 to function. Thus, the resilient retainingelement 8 is compressed longitudinally and expanded or bulged radiallyfor anchoring the holder in the material.

Of course, to remove the device it is only necessary to again contractthe resilient element 8 radially to permit its withdrawal through theopenings II.

It is believed that the many advantages of a sheet material holderconstructed in accordance with the present invention will be readilyunderstood, and although a preferred embodiment of the device is asillustrated and described, it is to be understood that changes in thedetails of construction may beresorted to which will fall within thescope of the invention as claimed.

What is claimed is:

A sheet material holder of the character de-' scribed comprising asocket having an open upper end and a closed lower end, integral fingerlugs projecting from the open end portion of the socket, an integralboss projecting longitudinally from the closed end of the socket andadapted to clamp the sheets between the latter and the lower I end ofthe socket.

SAMUEL M. MCCARTHY.

